Attachments
Situation Update
• The situation in the coastal regions, including Jableh, Banyas, Tartous, and Latakia, remains unpredictable after an upsurge in tensions, hostilities, and episodes of violence in early March. Violent clashes escalated from 6 to 8 March, resulting in the killing of civilians, significant population displacement, and impact on civilian infrastructure. According to the Syrian Network for Human Rights (SNHR), 396 people were killed, including civilians. Unconfirmed reports from Lattakia and Tartous governorates provide an indicative number of 1,500 casualties, including civilians, and around 51,000 people have been displaced. As of 2 April, UNHCR reported that 29,079 persons crossed the Syrian border due to the hostilities and are hosted in 30 locations across North and Akkar Governorates in Lebanon.
• Movement remains restricted, particularly in the rural areas of Jableh and Banyas, due to increased checkpoint presence and fears of arbitrary arrest. Some areas are still inaccessible due to the presence of heavily armed contingents and security checkpoints. Despite a relative improvement in the overall security situation, fear and mistrust continue to dominate daily life with significant impact and concern on children’s well-being, health and nutrition. The humanitarian situation is dire, with electricity and water supply cut in rural Lattakia, especially Jableh and Banyas. Psychological trauma is widespread among children and families who have witnessed or experienced violence.
• The escalation of security incidents and the attacks on civil infrastructure have disrupted essential services, such as water pumping systems, due to power outages. At least six hospitals in Lattakia, Tartous, and Banyas were damaged.
• Schools have also been affected. As per the initial official figures from the Department of Education, the recent incidents affected 26 schools in Lattakia and 30 in Tartous. These schools were damaged and looted, requiring immediate rehabilitation to resume learning activities. The disruption to education, combined with already low attendance rates, has created an urgent need for catch-up classes to address the learning gap. Schools officially reopened before Eid, but attendance remains very low, with reports of 75 per cent in Tartous and 55 per cent in Lattakia.
• Continued insecurity, widespread displacement, and service disruptions exacerbate vulnerability across affected communities. Urgent humanitarian assistance, including psychosocial support, restoration of public services, school rehabilitation, medical care, and protection services, is essential to meet the growing needs of displaced and traumatized populations.